The Ministry of Tourism, its staff and officers, join with the Minister of Tourism, The Hon. Dionisio D’Aguilar; Permanent Secretary, Mr. Charles Albury and Director General, Mrs. Joy Jibrilu, in extending sincere condolences to the family of the late David L. Johnson, former Director General of Tourism.

Mr. Johnson’s long career in the Tourism Industry began some 45 years ago, when he, along with six other Bahamians, was identified as a Management Trainee for positions overseas in the Bahamas Tourist Offices. Mr. Johnson spent many years in the Bahamas Tourist Offices in the United States and Canada, namely New York, Boston, Miami and Toronto.

He is regarded as a pioneer in the Tourism Industry, winning the respect both internally and externally from the supplier side of the Industry, from hotel brands to airlines, cruise lines, tour operators and agents, to private sector business partners, BHTA and Promotion Boards within The Bahamas. Mr. Johnson had a deep understanding of how the tourism machinery worked and gained valuable knowledge of the business of tourism from the relationships he developed over the years, especially from the tour operators he worked closely with, some of whom remained his personal friends. He rose to become the General Manager of the Americas responsible for all of the BTO’s in North America and then returned home. He later joined the airline industry to become the Managing Director of Bahamasair.

Now considered a veteran tourism professional, David Johnson joined the Grand Bahama Island Promotion Board in 1996. The Promotion Board and the Grand Bahama Tourist Office came together under his leadership as the Grand Bahama Island Tourism Board. During his time in Grand Bahama he was regarded as the technical leader of Grand Bahama’s tourism sector, which at the time comprised 4,000 hotel rooms.

He returned to New Providence in 2004 as the Deputy Director General in charge of Business and Product Development, and thereafter, served as Director General of Tourism from 2010 to 2014.

Having prevailed upon those who would make the decision to focus on the development side of Tourism, he was transitioned into what was to become the Tourism Development Corporation as CEO in 2014 and later entered the private sector. He continued working in this capacity until his health prevented him from doing so, as he sincerely wanted to see the Grand Lucayan re-open and its people return to work.

The Tourism Industry of The Bahamas has lost a consummate tourism professional and business leader.

The Bahamas Ministry of Tourism and Aviation extends heartfelt condolences to his wife, Sabrina, their two sons and his family.